Robert Calder Allen

Robert Calder Allen was born on 8 August 1812. He entered the Royal Navy in 1827 and was promoted to second master in 1838 and master in 1841, later serving in China and Borneo. He joined the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1850-1851 (leader Horatio Austin), as master in HMS Resolute, sent by the Admiralty to search for Sir John Franklin's missing Northwest Passage expedition. During the expedition, Allen led a party to explore Lowther and Garrett Islands in the Barrow Strait.

After the expedition, Allen served in Hogue in the Baltic between 1854 and 1855, advancing to staff commander in 1864 and staff captain in 1867. Retiring in 1870, he was awarded the CB in 1877. He died on 28 January 1903.

From the guide to the Robert Allan collection, 1851, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)